A TRC not government’s\ sole property – Dr. Sachs

Says, ‘It must go public to be a success’

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

A Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) should deal publicly and not behind closed doors. It is not a property confined only to a government, Dr. Albert ‘Albie’ Louis Sachs, former judge on the Constitutional Court of South Africa, who is in town, revealed in an informal chat he had with a group of people he had met in Sri Lanka.

Albie Sachs, who was appointed to the Constitutional Court of South Africa by Nelson Mandela, was denied a ‘conference visa’ and issued with a tourist visa, which prohibited him addressing the conference held on Friday, organized by a prestigious think tank, inside sources revealed. Dr. Sachs had said, the South African reconciliation process was successful because all parties participated, moral leadership was given by Nelson Mandela, victims were permitted to fully express their experiences and all evidences given was in public and not behind closed doors.
He also revealed that the TRC alone cannot bring about complete reconciliation, therefore the implementation of LLRC, good governance, some constitutional changes, devolution and so on should also be considered.

He added that government should not handle the TRC on its own but should work with all parties. “Certain clauses in the South African process would be futile, however; a full package of TRC can bring about a successful reconciliation in Sri Lanka.”

He went on to say the TRC of South Africa should be worked across both communities along with the Sri Lankan political actors. The TRC process is not confined only to the government of Sri Lanka or its politicians. “It does not work that way,” he had said.

A South African delegation is expected to be in Sri Lanka to have further discussions on the TRC, it was revealed.
Dr. Albie Sachs was appointed judge in1994 and retired in October 2009. In 1988, the former judge lost his right arm and the sight in one eye when a bomb planted by the South African security services exploded.